Written Answers Nos. 1261-1280
1262. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm the total allocation to the previous forestry programme, including expenditure by year, with a breakdown by establishment grants and premiums, by forest type; the outstanding expenditure for each forest type; if this information can be provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37630/23]
View answerThe total budget allocation for the previous Forestry Programme, across the relevant spending years 2015 to 2022, was €853,176,300. Expenditure in that period amounted to €716,545,019, with €655,298,166 spent on Afforestation Grants and Premiums.
There is considerable detail in the response to your question, and the breakdown requested can be found in the spreadsheet attaching to this response. This has been broken down for each year of the previous Programme by Grant and Premium Category (GPC). The total allocation for forestry and the total expenditure is given, along with the afforestation expenditure by GPC.
There is a total outstanding liability in respect of premiums of €147,823,216. This is broken down by year in the attached spreadsheet.
1263. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on the continuation of premiums under the reconstitution and underplanting scheme in 2022; how many premiums will be continued for the period remaining, by year, from one year to 20 years if applicable; how many recipients will have their premiums continued, by number of years remaining; how many recipients received a premium continuation or a change in GPC for a replacement species; if this information can be provided in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37632/23]
View answerThe Reconstitution and Underplanting Scheme (RUS) has several payment stages, including the payment of a site clearance grant and a grant for re-planting (which is paid in two instalments). Where the original afforestation contract remains in premium, the annual payments are continued for the remaining period of the contract at the rate of the replacement species GPC.
Table 1 below shows the details of the site clearance grants and first planting grants paid in 2022.
Table 1
|
- |
RUS Payments in 2022 |
||
|
No of Contracts |
Amount Paid |
Hectares |
|
|
RUS Site Clearance Contracts 2022 |
66 |
€185,410.00 |
185.41 |
|
1st Grant Contracts (Replanting) |
74 |
€564,196.50 |
203.31 |
Table 2 shows the details of outstanding premiums for those 74 sites where replanting took place in 2022. The premium continues for those in premium at the replacement species rates.
Table 2
|
- |
Outstanding Premium Payments for sites replanted in 2022 |
|
Remaining Payments |
Number |
|
8 |
2 |
|
7 |
7 |
|
6 |
5 |
|
5 |
2 |
|
4 |
4 |
|
3 |
1 |
|
2 |
4 |
|
1 |
4 |
|
Paid In Full (out of premium) |
45 |
|
Total |
74 |
1264. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37678/23]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.
I have been informed that the Agriculture Appeals Office received an appeal from the person named on 23rd February 2023. However, at that time no internal review of the decision had been requested of my Department. A review decision was subsequently requested and was completed during May 2023. I am informed the person named subsequently provided grounds of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office during August 2023 and this allowed the appeal to be progressed.
I am also informed the Agriculture Appeals Office is since in receipt of my Department’s statement on the grounds of appeal and the related documents which will allow for the appeal to be assigned to an Appeals Officer. I am assured the Appeals Officer will be in contact with the farmer in the near future to progress this appeal.
1265. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated full-year cost of increasing the sheep improvement scheme payment by €1 per ewe in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37683/23]
View answerThe Sheep Improvement Scheme (SIS), currently in year one of operation, is an EU co-funded scheme provided for under the new Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) Strategic Plan.
Expenditure on the Sheep Improvement Scheme is based on a payment of €12 per breeding ewe upon completion of two actions chosen by the farmer from a menu of options provided in the Scheme Terms and Conditions.
SIS payment rates are based on the agreed costings underlying the actions to be undertaken in the scheme. Any increase in payments would thus require changes to the actions currently being undertaken by farmers. Any such changes to the details of the scheme would require the agreement of the European Commission.
Based on the current number of applicants in the SIS, the average flock size, the reference number of breeding ewes and assuming all eligibility requirements are met, the estimated full year cost of increasing the SIS payment by €1 per ewe would be approximately €1.9m.
1266. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has received reports of cruelty to hares during the month of August 2023 (details supplied); the steps that were taken in the investigation; if other authorities were informed of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37709/23]
View answerMy Department became aware of this matter, which has been subject to investigation by inspectors of the ISPCA who are authorised officers under the Animal Health and Welfare Act. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
My Department continues to operate a confidential animal welfare helpline and email through which members of the public can report incidents of animal cruelty or neglect. In dealing with complaints, where appropriate, Department officials collaborate with An Garda Síochána, local authorities, the ISPCA and DSPCA.
The Helpline number and e-mail address for reporting suspected cases of animal welfare breaches are as follows: 01 607 2379 or animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie.
1267. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the full-year cost of expanding the straw incorporation measure to include an additional 100 participants in 2024. [37747/23]
View answerThe Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) forms part of the Cap Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023 - 2027.
The CSP has an allocation of €50 million over the 5 years of the plan for SIM, which gives an indicative annual budget of €10 million, targeting some 40,000 hectares of straw incorporation annually.
Application for the Measure is via the annual Basic Income for Sustainability (BISS) and other area based schemes application process. The measure is available to all those who in adherence with the Terms and Conditions - declare the requisite eligible crops and confirm their intent to participate when completing their online BISS application.
There is no upper limit to the number of applicants who may seek to join the Measure, but where the Measure is oversubscribed a process of ranking and selection may be applied with applicants placed into tiers based on their application data.
1268. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated cost of expanding the straw incorporation measure to allow participants to receive payment for up to 60 ha of land. [37748/23]
View answerThe Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) is a new scheme under Ireland's CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023 - 2027. This scheme follows on from a successful two-year pilot in operation during 2021 and 2022.
The Measure is an annual voluntary scheme under which an applicant chooses to incorporate straw for a minimum of 5 hectares up to a maximum payable area of 40 hectares of eligible SIM crops from their overall holding.
The CSP has an allocation of €50 million for SIM over the 5 years of the plan, which gives an indicative annual budget of €10 million, targeting some 40,000 hectares of straw incorporation annually.
In order to increase the maximum payable area, my Department would be required to seek an amendment to the CSP. As part of this process, a significant and in-depth evaluation would be required to determine the number of potential applicants, the impact to the targeted environmental objectives as set out in the CSP and the impact on the volume of straw available for feed and bedding.
Were an amendment to be submitted and successful, the increase in the maximum payable area from 40 ha to 60 ha, would not result in any extra cost as currently the budget is fixed at €50 million over the 5 years. Where the total claimed area exceeds the total budget, ranking and selection applies and farmers with certain crops will be excluded. Farmers with only certain crops, for example oilseed rape, would be unlikely to be eligible for the scheme as the funding would be firstly assigned to applicants in higher tiers, for example those with oaten straw.
In 2023, 538 farmers submitted a claim for SIM in excess of the 40 ha maximum. If the maximum limit were to be raised to 60 ha, approximately €650,000 would be required from the budget to cover this increase if all the hectares claimed were ranked high enough to make them payable when the ranking and selection process was carried out.
1269. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants in the straw incorporation measure scheme in 2023; if this information can be broken down by participants receiving payment for 5 to 10 hectares,11-20 hectares, 21-30 hectares and 31-40 hectares, in tabular form. [37749/23]
View answerThe Straw Incorporation Measure (SIM) forms part of the Cap Strategic Plan (CSP) 2023 - 2027.
The CSP has an allocation of €50 million over the 5 years of the plan for SIM, which gives an indicative annual budget of €10 million, targeting some 40,000 hectares of straw incorporation annually.
Under the 2023 SIM, a total of 3,430 applications have been received to date.
A breakdown of this figure for applications is provided below.
|
Category |
Number of Applicants |
|
5-10 Hectares inclusive |
1,131 |
|
11-20 Hectares inclusive |
895 |
|
21-30 Hectares inclusive |
464 |
|
31-40 Hectares inclusive |
940 |
1270. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding provided to the Teagasc Signpost Advisory Programme; the funding provided for the AgNav platform and required resources including advisors, workshops and trainings to assess farm data in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37750/23]
View answerThe Signpost Advisory Programme and the AgNav Sustainability Digital Platform are two of the three pillars of the Teagasc Climate Action Strategy, that Teagasc launched in December 2022.
The Signpost Advisory Programme is an extension of the overall Teagasc Signpost Programme that has been in place since May 2021 to support adoption of best practice and climate actions on farms.
As regards funding for SignPost, my Department provides Teagasc with significant grant aid funding to support its annual programmes of activities, including, for example, the Signpost Advisory Programme. We continue to provide Teagasc with strong financial support yearly with over €156m being made available this year, an increase of €6.5m compared to 2022. Prioritisation of funding for individual programmes etc remains an operational matter for Teagasc and its governing board.
The AgNav Sustainability Digital Platform is a collaboration between Teagasc, Bord Bia and ICBF that will support farmers to count carbon emissions and sequestration on their farms. The platform is currently in pilot phase. My Department has received a funding proposal from the three partner organisations to assist the further development of the AgNav platform. The proposal is currently being evaluated.
1271. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants to the 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37751/23]
View answerThe Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector is intended to assist in the development of the horticulture sector, including beekeeping, by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment including renewable energy, as well as technology adoption specific to commercial horticulture production. The 2023 Scheme has a budget of €10 million which is an 11% increase in funding compared with 2022.
The 2023 Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector opened for applications on 01 June 2023 and a total of 168 applications have been received.
1272. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 1895 of 26 April 2022, for an update on the Irish Coursing Club's traceability system for coursing greyhounds which was scheduled for completion during quarter three of 2022 (details supplied); the statistics his Department has received from ICC regarding deaths and exports of coursing greyhounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37755/23]
View answerThe Irish Coursing Club (ICC) is the competent authority with regard to the maintenance of the Irish Greyhound Stud Book. The ICC has been responsible for the Irish Greyhound Stud Book since 1923 and this was further underpinned by the enactment of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958.
Coursing is regulated under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly by the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Rásaíocht Con Éireann, Hare coursing is managed and regulated by the Irish Coursing Club.
The ICC has informed my Department that as the traceability project progressed, it became apparent that the entire ICC IT system to administer its stud book and registration system required update. This is a sizeable project requiring considerable investment, with a number of phased components so as to future proof and streamline its systems. Tenders have been sought, with a return date of 1 September 2023. An evaluation of received tenders will follow.
The provision of a traceability system will be incorporated into this comprehensive ICC IT system upgrade.
The ICC do not provide my Department with the statistics referred to in the Deputy’s question.
1273. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide an update on the number of sellers and suppliers of pets and animals who have registered with his Department in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023; if he will provide further details on plans to target the sale and distribution of animals through illicit puppy farms, in particular a crackdown on online advertisements which are misleading the general public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37796/23]
View answerA total of 985 pet sellers were registered in 2021, 886 were registered in 2022, and 342 have been registered to date in 2023.
Earlier this year, the Pet Sellers' Registration process underwent a review, whereby a veterinary inspector must inspect the prospective seller/supplier's premises before they are approved on the Pet Sellers Register. Also as part of this review, each registration now only lasts for one year before their registration must be renewed.
My Department carries out regular spot-checks on advertisements selling pet animals on an ongoing basis and where potential breaches of the legislation are flagged, investigates further and takes action as necessary. Advertisements may remain active while an investigation is ongoing.
My Department is in ongoing contact with all online platforms who sell pet animals, advising them of the legislation, the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or supply of pet animals) Regulations 2019 (No. 681 of 2019), and requesting where necessary that this legislation is clear to sellers and potential buyers. Where a seller is reported to be in breach of the guidelines for selling pets, the advert is removed and the seller is reported to the Department's regional veterinary inspectors who work with the ISPCA and local authority, who conduct a thorough investigation including premises inspection.
Responsibility for Dog Breeding Establishments lies with the Department of Rural and Community Development as provided for by the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. An establishment keeping six or more bitches of more than six months of age capable of being used for breeding purposes falls within the scope of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. Local Authorities have responsibility for registration, inspection and regulation of dog breeding establishments, including enforcement activities.
Any evidence of animal cruelty or neglect of an animal’s welfare should be brought to the attention of my Department by calling the animal welfare helpline on 01 6072379 or by emailing animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie.
1274. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to respond directly to concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of the sale of puppies online despite the Government’s best efforts to address these illicit sales; if anything can be done to target sites such as the one referred to in the correspondence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37808/23]
View answerIt is a requirement for any seller of pet animals to adhere to the guidelines set out in the Animal Health and Welfare (Sale or Supply of Pet Animals) Regulations 2019 (No. 681 of 2019), which came into operation on 1st February 2020.
While I cannot comment directly on individual cases, I would like to inform the Deputy that my Department monitors activities in relation to pet sales and where potential breaches of the legislation are flagged, investigates further and takes action as necessary. Advertisements may remain active while an investigation is ongoing.
Responsibility for Dog Breeding Establishments lies with the Department of Rural and Community Development as provided for by the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. An establishment keeping six or more bitches of more than six months of age capable of being used for breeding purposes falls within the scope of the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. Local Authorities have responsibility for registration, inspection and regulation of dog breeding establishments, including enforcement activities.
Where animals are sold online, the owners or administrators of the websites must be vigilant of advertisements and where breaches of the guidelines have been found or are reported, advertisements must be investigated and removed where appropriate. Where sellers are in breach of the regulations, my Department initiates the process of revocation of the pet sellers license and in the case of breeding establishments, the appropriate Local Authority will take any necessary action.
In cases where an animal health issue has been brought to the attention of my Department we instruct the website to remove the advert immediately and the owner of the advert is then reported to our Regional Veterinary Office Veterinary Inspectors, who liaise with the ISPCA and Local Authorities as necessary to conduct a premises check and take action as appropriate.
Any evidence of animal cruelty or neglect of an animal’s welfare should be brought to the attention of my Department by calling the animal welfare helpline on 01 6072379 or by emailing animalwelfare@agriculture.gov.ie.
1275. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a landowner intends to plant an area greater than 0.10 ha and less than 1.00 ha without relying on any form of State aid, the specific circumstances in which an appropriate assessment or environmental study is required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37833/23]
View answerIf a landowner wishes to afforest an area of greater than 0.10 hectare and not greater than 1 hectare without grant aid, they are required to apply for an afforestation licence.
My Department assesses all afforestation licence applications, i.e. grant-aided and non-grant aided, in the same manner. The updated Environmental Requirements for Afforestation document, which is available on the Department's website, includes the circumstances in which a report is required at the time of application.
In considering all applications for afforestation licences, my Department will screen for appropriate assessment, at which stage the need or otherwise for any further environmental reports would be established. Any reports required at this stage in the application would be requested from the applicant and their Registered Forester via a Request for Further Information.
If the landowner wishes to plant an area greater than 0.10 ha and less than 1.00 ha and would like to apply for grant aid then they may consider the Native Tree Area Scheme, which my Department intends to launch in the coming weeks. Eligibility criteria will be incorporated into the scheme which will ensure that all tree planting works are undertaken in a legally compliant and sustainable manner, without the requirement for an afforestation licence.
1276. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish his licensing plan for autumn 2023 and for the full year 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37861/23]
View answer1277. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will publish its forestry licensing plan for autumn 2023 and for the full year 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37862/23]
View answer1280. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to publish his licensing plan for autumn 2023 and for the full year 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37887/23]
View answer1284. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he plans to publish his licensing plan for Autumn 2023 and for the full year 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37923/23]
View answer1334. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he intends to publish his forestry licensing plan for autumn 2023 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39200/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1276, 1277, 1280, 1284 and 1334 together.
My Department has not been in a position to issue grant-aided forest road or afforestation licences this year while we awaited full and final approval of the new Forestry Programme 2023 -2027, including State Aid approval from the European Commission and the conclusion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment processes.
I am pleased to say that the Programme has now been approved by Government, and both the afforestation and forest roads schemes are open to applications. Felling licences continue to issue as normal.
As we are now in a position to issue all licences we will in the near future publish a new Forestry Licensing Plan. This will cover the reminder of 2023 while also indicating plans for 2024.
1278. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in relation to (details supplied) to confirm how Irish thoroughbreds are being slaughtered in the UK; if he will provide details of the true slaughter figures of thoroughbreds in Ireland and the UK per year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37869/23]
View answerI can confirm that for the years 2019 – 2023, no equines were certified for movement for slaughter from Ireland to establishments in GB. Many horses are traded from Ireland to GB. It is possible that horses moved to GB for other reasons were subsequently sent for slaughter there. These horses would retain their Irish passports and microchips from when they were born, even if they had been resident in the UK or elsewhere.
As noted in the article, half of the thoroughbred population in Britain is of Irish origin, which may explain how horses with Irish passports are presented for slaughter in Great Britain.
My Department does not maintain figures or information on horse slaughter in the UK, this is a matter for the UK authorities.
In Ireland, slaughter figures for registered thoroughbreds are as follows:
2020: 1497
2021: 1058
2022: 1017
2023 (to 26/07/23): 688
1279. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in the Forest Service of his Department who are employed to deliver/process licences; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37886/23]
View answer1285. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of people in the Forest Service of his Department employed to deliver just 52 licences during the second week of August 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37927/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1279 and 1285 together.
The table below shows the current number of permanent staff working in all three forestry divisions in my Department i.e. Forestry Division, Forest Sector Development (FSD) Division and Forestry Inspectorate Division (including ecology/archaeology).
Please note also that these staff are involved in all aspects of the forestry remit including licensing, promotion, forest health, payments, engagement at National, EU and international level on forestry policy issues and forest sector development. Changes in regulatory requirements in relation to forestry licensing has necessitated an increase in resources.
As regards licence issue in the first week of August, this is a result of being unable to issue grant-aided forest road or afforestation licences as we awaited full and final approval to the new Forestry Programme 2023 -2027, including State Aid approval from the European Commission and the conclusion of the Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment processes. I am pleased to say that the Programme has now been approved by Government and both the afforestation and forest roads schemes are open to applications. Felling licences continue to issue as normal.
|
Grade/Role |
Admin |
FSD |
Inspectorate |
Total |
|
Director of Forestry |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Senior Inspector |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 1 |
3 |
9 |
12 |
|
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 2 |
10 |
10 |
||
|
Forestry Inspector Grade 3 |
5 |
35 |
40 |
|
|
Forest Insp G3 (archaeologist) |
4 |
4 |
||
|
Forest Insp G3 (ecologist) |
1 |
1 |
||
|
AAI (ecologist) |
7 |
7 |
||
|
Principal Officer |
1 |
1 |
||
|
Assistant Principal |
4 |
1 |
5 |
|
|
Higher Executive Officer |
14 |
1 |
15 |
|
|
Executive Officer |
34 |
1 |
4 |
39 |
|
Clerical Officer |
42 |
42 |
||
|
Total |
96 |
12 |
71 |
179 |
